sabato 17 dicembre 2011

THE NEW CHINESE ARMY AIR FORCE...

INTRODUCTION

The People's Liberation Army Air Force is the largest military air force in the world with over 6,000 military airplanes and over 300,000 active personnel. The new PLAAF is updating its inventory of MiG-21 and MiG-19 copies with planned purchases of the advanced Russian made Sukhoi SU-27 FLANKER series and the newly developed J-10 strike fighter.

The new Chinese J-20 is currently undergoing testing. The J-20 has a canard layout similar to the Chengdu J-10, twin canted, all moving, vertical stabilizers similar to the Russian Sukhoi T-50 and stealth body shaping similar to the Lockheed F-22. The J-20 appears to be currently fitted with the Russian Saturn AL-31 engines but a production version is expected to use the Chinese made WS-10 turbofan. The J-20 is fitted with three weapons bays for six internal weapons and four external hard points.

The PLAAF wants the J-20 to be operational by 2017. However, it is not clear whether the current aircraft is a production prototype or simply an experimental flight demonstrator. The stealth features and performance are currently not known but it is clear the airframe will require significant improvement during the development stage. The current configuration with a canard stabilizer is incorrect in order to obtain stealth from frontal radar observation. In addition, the current engine layout and bare nozzles with aft fans exposed is also not stealthy. The full performance of the J-20 as a 5th generation stealth is also heavily dependant on technology not related to the airframe such as data fusion, emissions control and a secure data link.

The new Chinese Y-8 is truly an international effort. The Y-8 is a Chinese version of the Russian AN-12 military transport. The aircraft was developed with the assistance of Ukrainian Antonov Design Bureau. The new Y-8 Chinese airborne radar plane includes navigation avionics from U.S. maker Honeywell, four Pratt and Whitney Canada PW150B turboprop engines and British Dodi R-408 6-blade propellers.

The new radar plane, code-named "Balance Beam," is fitted with a linear-shape electronically steered phased-array (ESA) radar. The radar is similar in shape and size to the Swedish Ericsson PS-890 Erieye airborne radar. The radar is to be manufactured by the PLA 38th Institute.

The Y-8 "Balance Beam" will provide the PLAAF with a platform for tactical airborne early warning and electronic intelligence missions. The "Balance Beam" is designed to coordinate Chinese fighters, bombers and strike aircraft via datalinks in air campaigns against Taiwan, Japan, India or the U.S.

The FC-1 has its roots in the now defunct Super-7 program which fell apart after he Tiananmen Square demonstrations were put down by the PRC. FC-1 development continued under the MiG design bureau using data from the rejected MiG-33 strike fighter.

The FC-1 has 7 stores stations - four under the wing, two on the wing-tips and one under the fuselage. Fixed weapon is a 23-mm inner cannon hidden inside fuselage.

In addition to the PL-8 short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile, which was derived from Israeli Rafael Python-3 technology, the FC-1 could also carry SD-10 medium-range missile. It may also be fitted with indigenously developed PL-11 or PL-12 medium-range AAM for BVR combat.

For ground attack missions, the FC-1 will carry laser-guided bombs, YJ-8K anti-ship missile, as well as various unguided bombs and rockets.

The FC-1 is favored by the PLA Navy aviation branch but not by the PLAAF itself which wants the more capable J-10 strike fighter to replace aging MiG-21 and MiG-19 designs. Pakistan has funded most of the FC-1 development and may purchase up to 150 of the fighters if it meets the Pakistani Air Force requirements.

The J-10 has 11 stores stations - six under the wing and five under the fuselage. The inner wing and centre fuselage stations are plumped to carry external fuel tanks. Fixed weapon is a 23-mm inner cannon hidden inside fuselage.

In addition to the PL-8 short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile, which was derived from Israeli Rafael Python-3 technology, the J-10 could also carry Russian Vympel R-73 (AA-11) short-range and R-77 (AA-12) medium-range missiles carried by Chinese Flankers. It may also be fitted with indigenously developed PL-11 or PL-12 medium-range AAM for BVR combat.

For ground attack missions, the J-10 will carry laser-guided bombs, YJ-8K anti-ship missile, as well as various unguided bombs and rockets. The KH-31 ramjet-powered anti-radiation missile may also be carried by the J-10.

The PLA SU-30 MKK is equipped with the Tikhomirov NIIP N001VE radar which can range up to 90-110 km in counter-air mode, 70-80km against ground targets and 200-250 km against large ships. The MKK2 version is possibly equipped with the Phazotron Zhuk-M-S which has a 140km in counter-air mode, and 300km against large ships. The SU-30 can be equipped with the Kupol M400 side-looking radar pod that can control up to 10 fighters. The MKK3 is equipped with a Tikomirov “Panda,” radar that has a 190 km counter air mode or may be equipped with the new version of Zhuk-M-S.

The SU-30 is equipped with an extensive electronics suite including the OLS-30 IRST (Infrared Search and Track) system that has a 80-100km range. SU-30 pilots are equipped with the Surya-K Helmet Sight for close in air-to-air combat. SU-30 also have the Sapsan-E ir/laser targeting pod for ground attack, a APK-9 data link pod for Kh-59ME missile, A-737 satnav system, the L-150 Pastel RWR Radar Warning system, a 96x chaff/flare dispenser, the Sorbitsya ECM and the Spektr data link.

J-11 SU-27SK FLANKER

SUKHOI SU-27SK "FLANKER"

EXPORT VERSION SOLD TO CHINA AND VIETNAM

MANUFACTURED BY:SUKHOI STATE DESIGN BUREAU

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

TYPE -SUPERSONIC STRIKE FIGHTER

LENGTH:71.9 FEET

SPAN:48.2 FEET

RANGE:1,900 MILES (WITHOUT AIR REFUEL)

HEIGHT:19.4 FEET

WEIGHT:50,000 POUNDS

ENGINE:2 AF-35 AFTERBURNING TURBO FANS

TOP SPEED:MACH 2.3

WEAPON LOAD:13,670 POUNDS

I/R AND RADAR HOMING AIR TO AIR MISSILES

R-73 AND R-77

LASER GUIDED BOMBS

AIR LAUNCHED VERSION SS-N-22 SUNBURN

AS-17 KRYPTON ANTI-RADAR MISSILE (KH-31)

SU-30 VERSION EQUIPPED FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS DELIVERY

SUKHOI SU-34 "FLANKER" TWIN SEAT STRIKE VERSION OF SU-27

ZVEZDA KH-31 SUPER-SONIC MISSILES IN RED (CENTER FOREGROUND)

The J-11 is the most advanced fighter currently in service with the PLAAF. The J-11 is roughly equal in performance and capability to the western aircraft that face it including the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and the U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet.

The PLAAF currently operates 78 single-seat Flanker fighters and four twin seat training versions. PLAAF factories signed a deal with Sukhoi to assemble 150 of these advanced fighters and build under license another 350.

China has also concluded a deal to purchase up to two hundred SU-30 two seat long range strike bomber versions of the FLANKER family from Sukhoi. The first thirty SU-30 fighters were delivered to the PLAAF in the fall of 2000 and there are an estimated 76 in active service. The PLAAF SU-30 bombers are equipped to carry Chinese made nuclear weapons.

The Chinese military is outfitting its Russian-made Su-30 fighter bombers with C-801 anti-ship cruise missiles. The upgrade will give China's air force a major new strike capability against ships. The C-801 is modeled after the French Exocet anti-ship missile.

China United Airline

SAR SPY PLANE

TU-154M

MANUFACTURED BY:TUPOLEV STATE DESIGN BUREAU

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

CREW:THREE PILOT/COPILOT/FLG ENGINEER

TYPE:SAR RADAR SURVEILLANCE (RADAR DOME ON BELLY)

CARGO:AIRLINER NORMAL SEATING 180

LENGTH:157.1 FEET

SPAN:123.2 FEET

RANGE:3280 MILES

HEIGHT:37.4 FEET

WEIGHT:199077 POUNDS

ENGINE:3 KUZNETSOV NK-8-2 TURBO FANS

TOP SPEED:625 MILES AN HOUR

Defense analysts confirmed that the so-called "civil" aircraft is actually a Chinese Air Force spy plane equipped with a sophisticated radar and communications equipment. China United Airlines B-4138 spy plane is a modified Tupolev TU-154 civil transport equipped with a tub like SAR radar dome on the belly and several antenna domes on the rear. B-4138 can use its advanced SAR radar to locate ground vehicles, ships, tanks and even troops from hundreds of miles away from the battlefield.

FORMER CHINA UNITED 737 NOW A PLAAF C3 PLANE

MANUFACTUREDBY:BOEING AIRCRAFT CORP. USA

TYPE-FLYING HQ/C3/MILITARY CARGO/TROOP TRANSPORT

CREW-TWO PILOT/CO-PILOT OFFICER

CARGO-126 PASSENGERS - 150 PARATROOPERS

12,800 LBS OF CARGO

RANGE-2,600 MILES

WING SPAN -94.8 FT.

LENGTH-109.6 FT.

HEIGHT-36.5 FT.

WEIGHT-124,500 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO CFM56-3C-1 TURBOFAN

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

SPEED-566 MILES PER HOUR

In 2000 Boeing concluded an agreement with China United Airlines to sell ten Boeing 737-300 transports. SOFTWAR has confirmed that the 737 transports are now being used by the PLAAF as troop and cargo military jets. One 737 has been modified by Xian Aviation into a command post for the Chinese Army. The 737 is also a prime airframe for the PLAAF to use in converted roles such as airborne radar or electronic warfare planes.

ILYUSHIN IL-76 CANDID

MANUFACTUREDBY:ILYUSHIN DESIGN BUREAU, RUSSIA

TYPE-MILITARY CARGO/TROOP TRANSPORT

CREW-FOUR PILOT/CO-PILOT TWO FLIGHT ENGINEERS

CARGO-200 PARATROOPERS

132,160 LBS OF CARGO

RANGE-2,160 MILES

WING SPAN -165.6 FT.

LENGTH-174.4 FT.

HEIGHT-47.3 FT.

WEIGHT-462,966 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-FOUR PS-90A TURBOFAN

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

SPEED-560 MILES PER HOUR

According to it's own website, the PLAAF owned China United Airlines operates a small fleet of Russian made Ilyushin IL-76 jet transports. The CUA IL-76 transports are actually operated by the PLAAF 13th Air Division based at Wuhan, Hubei Province and the PLAAF 34th Air Division based at Nanyuan AFB, Beijing.

The IL-76 four-engine jet is the current front-line PLAAF military transport and the Chinese civil version is frequently armed with a cannon located in a rear turret. PLAAF IL-76 transports dropped paratroopers, tanks and artillery directly on to the battlefield during the fall 2000 Chinese military exercises.

KJ-2000 MODIFIED IL-76 PLAAF AWACS PLANE

MiG-31 FOX HOUND

MANUFACTUREDBY:MIKOYAN AVIATION NPO (MiG), RUSSIA

TYPE-FIGHTER/INTERCEPTOR/ANTI-SATELLITE

CREW-TWO IN TANDEM PILOT/WEAPONS OFFICER

ARM-FOUR HARD POINTS - TWO ON EACH WING, FOUR BELLY HARD

POINTS - TYPICAL ANTI-AIR MISSION FOUR R-33 AAM

RANGE-1,630 MILES INTERNAL - HAS AIR REFUELING CAPABILITY

WING SPAN -44.1 FT.

LENGTH-74.5 FT.

HEIGHT-20.2 FT.

WEIGHT-90,000 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO AFTERBURNING SOLOVIEV D-30G

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL

SPEED-1,900 MPH OR MACH 2.8 AT ALTITUDE

UNCONFIRMED**** Russia and China concluded an agreement to transfer twenty four MiG-31 FOXHOUND fighters to China in 1992. The agreement included a deal to manufacture up to 200 more inside China. The transfer cannot be confirmed in that NO MiG-31 aircraft have appeared in the PLAAF inventory at this time. U.S. intelligence sources indicate that the MiG-31 may be used by the PLAAF in an anti-satellite role by firing a specialized missile.

SHENYANG J-8 FINBACK

MANUFACTUREDBY:SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA

TYPE-INTERCEPTOR

CREW-ONE PILOT OFFICER

ARM-SIX WING HARD POINTS ONE BELLY HARD POINT

TWO 30 MM CANNON

RANGE-500 MILES

WING SPAN -30.7 FT.

LENGTH-67.4 FT.

HEIGHT-17.9 FT.

WEIGHT-33,700 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO AFTERBURNING WP13A

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

IZMRUD AIR TO AIR RADAR

SPEED-1500 MPH OR MACH 2.1 AT ALTITUDE

The Shenyang J-8 is the first PLAAF produced fighter jet. The J-8 is based on a twin-engine design of the Russian made MiG-21/J-7 and is equipped with a Izmrud intercept radar. The J-8 is considered a classic "interceptor" in that it is not designed for dog-fighting with superior western fighter jets but is intended to intercept long range bombers in a defensive role. The J-8 is comparable in performance and specifications to the Sukhoi SU-15 FLAGON.

SHENYANG (CHENGDU) J-7 (MIG-21 FISHBED)

MANUFACTUREDBY:SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA

CHENGDU AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL CORP.

TYPE-FIGHTER

CREW-ONE PILOT OFFICER

ARM-FOUR HARD POINTS - TWO ON EACH WING, ONE BELLY HARD POINT

TWO 30 MM CANNON

RANGE-400 MILES

WING SPAN -23.5 FT.

LENGTH-45.7 FT.

HEIGHT-13.4 FT.

WEIGHT-19,580 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-ONE AFTERBURNING WP7B(BM)

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

SPEED-1500 MPH OR MACH 2.1 AT ALTITUDE

The Chinese made J-7 is an advanced version of the formidable MiG-21 FISHBED. J-7 design improvements include a cranked-arrow wing for better low and high speed performance, two extra hard points on each wing for weapons, improved avionics and upgraded weapons systems. J-7 fighters are considered to be capable dog-fighters and can press close in air combat with the best western aircraft.

The J-7 is not the front-line fighter that the PLAAF would prefer to replace its aging fleet of J-6 FARMER jets. However, nearly 500 J-7 fighters are in service with the PLAAF and the PLAN. Both export and domestic J-7 jets are fitted with a wide variety of western avionics including a GEC-Marconi Avionics HUDWAC (head-up display and weapon aiming computer) and GARMIN GPS bombing navigation systems.

POINT AND WING-TIP HARD POINTS FOR AIR TO AIR MISSILES

TOTAL 14,000 LB. EXTERNAL STORES INCLUDING C.802 MISSILES,

CONVENTIONAL OR NUCLEAR FREE-FALL BOMBS

RANGE-1,900 MILES

WING SPAN -41.65 FT.

LENGTH-73.22 FT.

HEIGHT-21.56 FT.

WEIGHT-62,000 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO AFTERBURNING WS-9 (ROLLS ROYCE SPEY BUILT ON LICENSE)

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL

INERTIAL AND SAR RADAR - ADVANCED VERSIONS TO BE

EQUIPPED WITH LASER DESIGNATOR AND FLIR

SPEED-750 MPH OR MACH 1.7 AT ALTITUDE

The FH-7 (FBC-1 export version) is a twin engine, swept-wing, super-sonic two seat, all weather attack bomber, equipped with American GPS bombing - navigation and powered by licensed copies of the British Rolls Royce Spey engine. The all weather FBC-1 ROCKWELL GPS bombing system will eventually be upgraded with Chinese made Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and an infra-red night vision pod.

Chinese engineers bragged that the FBC-1 was designed with CAD (computer aided design) techniques on U.S. built super computers. The computers were provided through the China Flight Test Establishment at Xian University.

Nanchang Q-5/A-5 FANTAN

MANUFACTUREDBY:NANCHANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA

TYPE-STRIKE BOMBER

CREW-ONE PILOT OFFICER

ARM-SIX HARD POINTS - THREE ON EACH WING

FOUR BELLY HARD POINTS

4,400 POUNDS OF BOMBS AND ROCKETS

TWO 23 MM CANNON

RANGE-400 MILES

WING SPAN -31.8 FT.

LENGTH-54.8 FT.

HEIGHT-14.8 FT.

WEIGHT-26,400 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO AFTERBURNING WP-6

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

HIGH FIX RADAR/ ALR-1 LASER DESIGNATOR

SPEED-700 MPH

The Q-5 is equipped with the HIGH FIX radar and imported navigation/attack systems. The Q-5 is used mainly to assist ground forces with air strikes. This derivative of the J-6 fighter originated in 1958 as a Shenyang design but was later assigned to Nanchang. A small number of Q-5 have been modified to carry nuclear weapons. The aircraft is considered the equal to similar western strike aircraft such as the Douglas Skyhawk, and French Etendard.

SHENYANG J-6 (MiG-19 FARMER)

MANUFACTUREDBY:SHENYANG AIRCRAFT CORP., PEOPLES REPUBLIC of CHINA

CHENGDU AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL CORP.

TYPE-FIGHTER

CREW-ONE PILOT OFFICER

ARM-SIX HARD POINTS - THREE ON EACH WING

TWO 3O MM CANNON

RANGE-425 MILES

WING SPAN -26.5 FT.

LENGTH-42.9 FT.

HEIGHT-12 FT.

WEIGHT-20,000 POUNDS TAKE OFF

ENGINE-TWO AFTERBURNING WP-6

GUIDANCE-GPS SUPPLIED BY ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL/GARMIN

SPEED-900 MPH OR MACH 1.4 AT ALTITUDE

The F-6 is the Chinese version of the MiG-19, which as of the mid-1990s was still in production in China. The PLAAF has over 3,000 of these maneuverable daylight fighters. The J-6 was thought to be an obsolete aircraft but recent reviews of PLAAF tactics show that the J-6 can be used to ambush and defeat much more capable machines due to its great close in air combat flight performance. The use of J-6 jets by Pakistan against more capable Indian jet fighters in the recent clashes over Kashmir shows that the J-6 is a formidable air to air foe in close in dog fighting.

It is a testimony to this capable air plane that the infamous Col. Toon of the North Vietnamese air force used the J-6 to down 12 US aircraft. In fact, China opted to cease production of the Mach two J-7 (MiG-21 variant) in favor of producing more J-6 jets.

The J-6, which began flight tests in 1958, was China's first supersonic jet fighter. The F-6 has six attachment points for external stores. The outboard wing stations can carry a 550 pound bomb or a 760 or 400 liter drop tank or the CAA-1b air to air missile. The inboard wing stations can carry practice bombs or rocket pods with either 8 x 57mm, 16 x 57mm, or 7 x 90mm rockets.